Budget Terms & Conditions

Terms & Conditions

More detailed terms & conditions of your rental will be included in your rental agreement to be read & signed upon collection of your vehicle.

NOTES:

Rates for the hire are based on the date a hire is started, so for a hire picking up near the end of October and finishing in November, you will be charged at October rates for the entire hire.

Car Hire is calculated on a 24 hour period (i.e. if you collect at 10am on the 23^rd and drop off at 4pm on the 26^th, the hire cost would be 4 days).

Makes and models are not guaranteed and may vary. (If for any reason the reserved vehicle is not available, Budget reserves the right to substitute a comparable or superior vehicle at no extra cost to the customer.  Such action by Budget does not constitute a breach of the vehicle conditions/contract and does not entitle the renter to any refund.  If no alternative vehicle is available, Budget’s liability is limited to the return of all payments made.)

In the event of an accident or damage to a vehicle, Budget Rental Car reserves the right to terminate the hire immediately and take possession of the vehicle.  A refund for the remainder of the terminated hire will be made, once the client has made a claim through the original booking agent.

Accessories – baby seats, booster seats, ski racks & ski chains (they have a maximum charge of $65+GST per hire or $13 per each day until the amount of $65 is reached).

A copy of your signed rental agreement (which you will receive and sign upon collection of your rental) must be kept in the vehicle throughout the term of the hire and produced on demand by any police or traffic officer.

Rates Include: Care Hire, Unlimited Kilometres and Vehicle Insurance (subject to insurance excess)

Rates Exclude: Petrol and other miscellaneous charges

PERSONS WHO MAY DRIVE VEHICLE

The vehicle may be driven during the period of hire only by the hirer and persons named on the Rental Agreement and only if they hold a current full driver’s licence appropriate for the vehicle at the time when they are driving the vehicle.

HIRER’S OBLIGATIONS

The hirer shall ensure that:

The water in the radiator and battery of the vehicle is maintained at the proper level;

The oil in the vehicle is maintained at the proper level;

The tyres are maintained at their proper pressure

The hirer shall ensure that all reasonable care is taken in handling and parking the vehicle and that it is left securely locked when not in use.

drivers license (with an English translation shown on the license) from their home country.  If the customer presents an international drivers permit, this must be accompanied with their home country license.  There is no charge for additional drivers.  There is no maximum age for hiring a car in New Zealand.

ONE WAY RENTALS

A One way rental fee of $50+GST applies for all one way rentals less than 7 days.  One way rentals are available with a minimum of 3 consecutive days rental in car groups A-E, and 5 consecutive days in groups F, P, W, V & L is required for any one way rental on any given island.  This fee is payable on pick up of vehicle.

MINIMUM RENTAL

The minimum rental for any Budget vehicle is 3 consecutive days.  The 24 hour period from the time the vehicle is collected is considered a day.

MULTI-HIRE RENTALS

Customers renting from several locations between the islands within one itinerary can accumulate the total number of rental days provided the subsequent vehicle is picked up within 24 hours.  This means that the applicable daily rate is based on the total number of rental days.  For multi-island hires minimum of 3 consecutive days per island is required for groups A-E and 5 consecutive days for F, P, W, V & L.  For multi-hires that cross-over seasonal validity dates the rate is based on the pick up date of the first hire.  The 3-5 day minimum for One Way Rentals still applies.

INTER-ISLAND HIRES

Budget vehicles cannot be taken on the inter-island ferry between the North Island and the South islands.  Therefore you must drop off the vehicle at the Budget office at the Ferry Terminal either in Picton or in Wellington prior to boarding the Ferry, and then collect a subsequent vehicle from the Budget office upon arrival at the other island.

Budget offices at the Inter-island Ferry Terminals are staffed to meet the ferry arrivals.  Budget is not responsible for booking passage on the ferry service – this must be done with the Inter-islander Ferry.

BOND/DEPOSIT

All New Zealand rentals require a NZ$150 (inclusive of GST) security bond to be paid at the commencement of the rental.  The bond can be paid by any major international credit card (American Express, Visa, MasterCard or Diners Club). The bond can be paid in cash in New Zealand Dollars but the cash total will need to cover total excess being $2500 + GST. 

ROAD RULES

New Zealander’s drive on the left-hand side of the road.  Maximum speed limits in towns and cities are 50km/h (30mph) and 100 km/h (60mph) on the open road, unless signs indicate alternative speeds.  Speed cameras are operating throughout New Zealand Strict drink-driving laws apply, with random breath testing carried out at any time.  Please note that all insurance is invalid if the driver of the vehicle exceeds the legal alcohol limit (currently 0.8gm alcohol per litre of blood).

Seatbelts must be worn by All occupants of the vehicle at all times.  By law all children under five years of age must use an infant or child car seat.  Car seats are available for hire from Budget Rent a Car.

Budget Rent a Car reserves the right to charge the renter for any traffic infringement notices (e.g. parking or speeding fines, etc.) that may be sent to Budget by the New Zealand Police.

AIRPORT AND FERRY COLLECTION FEE

A one off Airport and Ferry Collection fee of NZ$35 + GST is payable on all rentals picked up or dropped off at any commercial New Zealand airport and from the inter-island ferry terminals in Wellington and Picton.  This is to be paid direct by the customer to Budget Rent a Car at the commencement of hire.  This fee is only payable once for each rental.

DRIVERS LICENSE/MINIMUM DRIVER’S AGE

All drivers must be 21 years old or over and hold a current non-probationary drivers license (with an English translationshown on the license) from their home country. If the customer presents an international drivers permit this must be accompanied by their home country license. There is no charge for additional drivers or any young drivers surcharges. There is no maximum age for hiring a car in New Zealand.

USE OF THE VEHICLE

The hirer shall not use or permit the vehicle to be used for the carriage of passengers for hire or reward unless the vehicle is hired with the knowledge of Budget for use in passenger service licensed under Part 1 or the Transport Services Licensing Act 1989.

The hirer shall not

Sublet or hire the vehicle to any other persons

Permit the vehicle to be operated outside his or her authority

Operate the vehicle or permit it to be operated in circumstances that constitute an offence by the driver against any of sections 56,57 and 58 of the Land Transport Act 1998 (which relates to driving under the influence of drink or drugs).

Operate the vehicle or permit it to be operated in any race, speed test, rally or contest;

Operate the vehicle or allow it to be operated in breach of the Transport act 1962, Land Transport (Road User) Rule 2004, or any other Act, regulations, rules, or by-laws relating to road traffic;

Operate the vehicle or permit it to be operated for the transport of more than the number of passengers or more than the weight of goods specified in the certificate of loading for the vehicle

Drive or permit the vehicle to be driven by any person if at the time of his or her driving the vehicle, the hirer or other person is not the holder of a current driver’s license appropriate for the vehicle.

RETURN OF VEHICLE

The return of the vehicle prior to the nominated date does not entitle the renter to any refund on the unused portion of the originally agreed rental cost.  For charges due to a late drop off, please refer to the table following:

If a vehicle is dropped off more than 3 hours after the designated time, a further full day’s charge will be made.  The applicable amount will be collected direct from the hirer by Budget Rentals (and the hirer will be charged the full retail price – pricing as advertised by Budget Rental Cars).

The hirer/customer will at or before the expiry of the term of hire, deliver the vehicle to the address from which the vehicle was hired or the budget depot agreed upon.

Budget will have the right to terminate the hire and take immediate possession of the vehicle if the hirer fails to comply with any of the terms of the rental agreement, or if the vehicle is damaged.  The termination of the hiring will be without prejudice to the other rights of Budge and the rights of the hirer under the rental agreement.

MOTOR VEHICLE INSURANCE

Type of cover: fully comprehensive, covering the motor vehicle at all times during the rental period and also covering the hirer’s liability to other parties arising from use of the vehicle.  Cover is subject to terms and conditions or rental agreement.

Sums Insured:      Budget’s Vehicle – Market Value

Third Party Liability – NZ$5,000,000.

Policy Excess: an excess is payable by the hirer for each and every accident which results in loss or damage to Budget’s vehicle or to a third party vehicle resulting from an accident with Budget’s vehicle, regardless of fault.

Note:

New Zealand legislation (from 1 April 1993) allows for an unlimited excess on damage to Budget’s vehicle.  Budget currently limits this excess (where not waivered for some vehicles by prior arrangement).

New Zealand legislation (from 1 April 1993) does not require New Zealand rental car companies to provide any coverage for third party damage as part of their vehicle insurance.  Budget has retained the previous NZ$5,000,000 cover under normal insurance cover.

Policy and Rental Agreement Restrictions: Budget’s rental agreement includes all the relevant insurance policy exclusions and conditions, together with the hirer’s obligations (particularly noting any specific roads unable to be driven on).  Breach of the terms, conditions and obligations of the rental agreement may result in the hirer being liable for loss or damage to Budget’s vehicle or to any third party vehicle, and for any consequent loss of revenue suffered by Budget.

Following is a brief outline of the major exclusions, conditions and obligations:

The vehicle must be driven only by the authorised drivers, and insurance cover is only provided during the period of hire as outlined in the hire agreement. 

The vehicle must be maintained during the period of the hire by the hirer in a fully working and roadworthy condition.

The hirer shall ensure the vehicle is securely locked at all times when not in use.

The driver or person in control of the vehicle must not be under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

The vehicle must not be operated in any race, speed test, reliability test or used for pace-making.

The authorized drivers must hold a current driver’s license for the type of vehicle being driven, and they must only drive within the terms of that driver’s license.

The vehicle must not be driven or used willfully or recklessly in a manner likely to cause damage.

Vehicles (including four wheel drive vehicles) must not be driven or used on the following roads or places:

Tasman Valley Road (Mount Cook)

Skippers Canyon Road (Otago)

Ninety Mile Beach (Northland)

Any unformed roads, including beaches i.e. roads other than tar seal and metal

The hirer shall not allow the vehicle to carry fare-paying passengers, nor sublet the vehicle to any other party.

The hirer must stop the vehicle if directed to do so by the Police or any other Government Authority.

The vehicle must not be used to tow any other vehicle

The vehicle should not be driven by any person who at the time when he or she drives the vehicle is disqualified from holding or has never held a driver’s licence for that vehicle;

If the vehicle is willfully or recklessly damaged by the hirer or any other person named on the Rental Agreement, or driving the vehicle under the authority of the hirer, or is lost as a result of the willful or reckless behaviour of the hirer or any such person;

The vehicle must not be in an unsafe or unroadworthy condition that arose during the course of the hire and that caused or contributed to the damage or loss, and the hirer or driver was aware or ought to have been aware of the unsafe or unroadworthy condition of the vehicle;

When the customer signs the rental agreement they acknowledge they are aware of any and all exclusions included in that rental agreement, above is a brief summary.

Motor vehicle insurance is included in these rates.  This insurance is subject to an insurance excess of NZ$2,500 + GST.  In case of an accident the client is liable for the amount of the insurance excess.

Budget offers the following protection package:

This is to be paid DIRECT to budget rental cars at the commencement of hire – not included in the above rates, it is an additional charge.

Budget Protection Plan (BPP)

For standard car groups the excess reduction fee is NZ$25 + GST per day.  This reduces the vehicle excess from NZ$3,000 + GST to NZ$225 + GST.

For car groups F, P, W, V and L the excess reduction fee is NZ$28.00 + GST per day.  This reduces the vehicle excess from NZ$3,750 + GST to NZ$225 +GST.

This also includes personal accident insurance, loss of keys replacement cover and a guaranteed replacement vehicle in the event of an accident (providing the customer does not breach the terms and conditions of the rental agreement).

Personal Accident Insurance (included in BPP)

The above BPP package includes Personal Accident Insurance (PAI) to provide you with additional ease of mind.  You and any authorized driver are covered by Budget’s PAI policy while driving the vehicle, and the insurance cover is available to persons aged 21 to 70 years at the time of accidental death or personal injury.

Compensation to the driver injured whilst using a Budget vehicle covers:

Accidental Death, Loss of one or more limbs or eyes, Temporary total disablement for a period not exceeding fifty two weeks from the happening of the event, Medical expenses. 

(Certain exclusions may apply.  Details of these can be obtained from any Budget location).

Personal Effects Cover – No longer offered.

Please note the policies above are reviewed annually and they are subject to change without notification.

ACC – Accident Compensation Corporation

The ACC administers New Zealand’s accident compensation scheme, which provides personal injury cover for all New Zealand citizens, residents and temporary visitors to New Zealand.  In return people do not have the right to sue for personal injury, other than for exemplary damages.

HIRER’S LIABILITY              

The hirer acknowledges that he or she shall be liable for damages or loss to the extent indicated under the heading “Hirer’s Liability” on the Rental Agreement.  This does not apply to damage or loss resulting from fire or from the theft of conversion or attempted theft of the vehicle.

REJECTION OF INSURANCE

If insurance is rejected, the hirer accepts by signing the front of the enclosed Rental Agreement that the vehicle is hired at the hirer’s own risk in respect of loss or damage to the vehicle and consequential loss by the owner (budget).  The hirer accepts by signing the Rental Agreement that he or she may be liable to the owner for damage to or loss of the vehicle and consequential loss. If insurance is rejected the hirer accepts by signing the Rental Agreement that he or she has no insurance cover under this agreement in respect of any damage, injury, or loss caused to any person or property.

MECHANICAL REPAIRS AND ACCIDENTS

Roadside assistance is available for all mechanical problems that relate to the vehicle specified in the rental agreement.  A call out fee for non-mechanical problems caused by the driver or passengers may be charged to the renter at the discretion of Budget Rentals.

If the vehicle is damaged or requires repair or salvage, whether because of an accident or breakdown, the hirer will advise the owner of the full circumstances by telephone as soon as possible.  They should not arrange or undertake any repairs or salvage without the authority of the owner except to the extent that the repairs or salvage are necessary to prevent further damage to the vehicle or to other property.  They will also ensure that no person shall interfere with the distance recorder or speedometer or, except in an emergency, any part of the engine, transmission, braking, or suspension systems of the vehicle.

The 24 hour roadside service Budget offers throughout the country is available on 0800 500 222 toll free in the event of a breakdown.  These details can be found in the Rental Agreement wallet.  The customer will have the following information ready for the Budget Operator:

Their Name, make & model of the vehicle, registration number, budget rental agreement number, exact location of vehicle, nature of breakdown and contact phone number.

The Roadside assistance service applies to: Mechanical breakdown or malfunction, Replacement of wheels and tyres, Flat or faulty batteries, Lockout or lost keys, Replacement of fuel.

Budget Roadside assistance service does not apply to: Accidents, Unattended vehicles (vehicles bogged down on other than public or formed roads, e.g. beaches, forest tracks etc,) Vehicles whilst trapped in extreme conditions, i.e. snow, flooding, road slips etc, The cost of any vehicle parts, e.g. starter motor, Vehicles travelling on any roads listed as prohibited in the Budget Rental Agreement.

Accidents: Customer/Hirer will need to do the following – Get in contact with the closest Budget Office and explain the details of the accident.  The branch will then make the decision on towing, replacing or not replacing the car.  Fill in the accident report as soon as possible.  The customers excess will be charged whether they are at fault or not.  If a third party is responsible for the accident, Budget will replace the car.  If the car is written off it may or may not be replaced. This is at Budgets discretion.

PARKING AND SPEEDING INFRINGEMENTS

The hirer acknowledges that he or she shall be liable for:

Damages to or loss of, including stolen, the GPS unit.  Charge is $495 + GST per unit.

A handling and freight fee where any GPS accessory is damaged or not returned with the GPS unit.  The charge is $30 + GST per rental.

All penalties relating to parking and/or traffic offences are the responsibility of the renter.  An administration fee will be applied to process these infringements.  These are: Speeding $30 + GST and Parking $30 + GST.

COMPLIMENTARY HOTEL DELIVERY OR TAXI SERVICE

No refund is given for any unused rental days.  Refund may only be considered in extreme circumstances such as a death in the family or major illness.  In these instances requests must be made in writing and then forwarded to Budget.  Budget reserves the right to exercise its sole discretion on such requests.